Protecting Dad From the Bad News, concerning fidelity

DESCRIPTION OF THE CASE: Ralph is a recent widower in his midi-60's, who was diagnosed with metatastasized colon cancer. He is a home health agency patient, and his primary caregivers a re his two daughters. Ralph is unaware of the severity of his condition and wanted to know what his state of health and prognosis were. The nurse evaded his questions initially, and his daughters did not want to tell him that his cancer …

…outright, but to encourage him to participate in his own care as much as possible, as well as perform his own ADL's as tolerated. By so doing, Ralph would be able to maintain his dignity, his daughters would be placated, and a lawsuit hopefully avoided. References: American Nurses Assoc (1991). Standards of clinical nursing practice. american Nurses Publishing. Washington, DC. Bandman, E. & Bandman, B. (1995). Nursing ethics through the life span. appleton & Lange. Norwalk, CT.